Salvē! Welcome to Rebecca Harrison’s Cogitatorium, a site for thinking and learning about Latin. The site has several sections:
on the Latin language
on Latin grammar, syntax, and composition
Latin vocabulary and word formation,
and on post-classical Latin.
Many of these areas overlap, and there are cross-links in the pages, menus at the top, and a site search box. Throughout the website, rolling the cursor over text that is maroon colored will show more (e.g. notes or answers) in a small box near the text. The idea is to provide materials, exercises, and questions to lead one cogitāre, hence the name, Cogitātōrium.
"Cogito, ergo sum." Descartes Disssertatio de Methodo iv
"Mens cogitat, id est, plura in unum cogit," (Varro de Lingua Latina XIX.10), "unde eligere possit."
(Ramshorn, Dictionary of Latin Synonymes #233)
New: Links and information on my relevant articles and website on the “About Me” page.
Latin Language
The pages under the Latin language menu contain background information on the Latin language and Roman culture.There are also pages on characteristics of particular authors.
New: There is a new page on the Days of the Week and how they compare in Latin, English, and the Romance languages!
New: Outline of Roman History!
Latin Grammar, Syntax, and Composition
The pages under the Latin grammar and syntax menu serve as the basis for an on-line Latin grammar manual, including information for both classical and post-classical Latin as well as for Latin prose composition.
New: Latin Correlatives Page!
New: Latin 4th Principal Part Stem Types
Translation of Latin Infinitives
Noun Gender
Uses of the Nominative Case
(Latin Composition) Guidelines on Questions and Answers in Latin
Summary of Noun/Adjective Endings!
Latin Vocabulary and Word Formation
The section on Latin vocabulary and word formation includes materials relating to learning vocabulary and to the one thousand most frequently used words in Latin literature. The vocabulary itself is divided into groups, with a page for each group, based roughly on frequency and grouping words together by common aspects (such as declension and gender), but separating easily confused words . To search for a particular word, use the alphabetical Index (in the menu). There are also pages of tips on learning vocabulary and pages on individual prefixes.
New: Distinguishing Latin Synonyms
Exercises for Vocabulary Group 1
Exercises for Vocabulary Group 2
Post-Classical Latin
The section on post-classical Latin is designed for Latin students and teachers, for scholars and students in other disciplines who want to look at the texts in the original language, and as a source of texts and materials for colleagues in medieval Latin. The focus is on Latin texts from significant non-fiction works from the late fourth century AD through the Renaissance, including texts from various disciplines in the traditional liberal arts and sciences. See the menu for the authors and works included. Many of the editions are my own, either emended (for Fibonacci) or arranged in my version of per cola et commata (by phrases and clauses). There is background material and translation notes (maroon words) for each. There is also a general background history of Latin literature and introduction to post-classical Latin, a color-coded chronological outline, a page of characteristics of post-classical Latin and early printed editions, and a glossary.
New: Top summary chart of Chronological Outline updated
Background on Descartes restored
Newton updated: Definitions
Laws of Motion
Regulae Philosophandi
Tides
pages on Isidore and Donatus